Slip of the Knife

Mina's psychological suspense follows crime reporter Paddy Meehan as she is unwittingly drawn into investigating her former lover, Terry Hewitt's, presumed IRA execution. Rife with the complexities of IRA political and religious strife, as well as dramatic Scottish settings, the contemporary plot descends into further depths as more murders, personal danger, and frightening twists impede Paddy's efforts. Native Glaswegian Jane MacFarlane flawlessly captures Paddy's voice with her strong Scots accent and dusky modulation. Her astutely nuanced characterizations range from the petulant voice of a 5-year-old (Paddy's son) to the cadences of an Irish brogue. The gripping story, with its realistic regional dialogue, provides suspense to the dÄnouement. A.W. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

Starred review from December 3, 2007
Set in 1990, Mina's superb third thriller to feature Paddy Meehan (after 2006's Edgar-finalist The Dead Hour
) finds the Glaswegian journalist embroiled in the most politically charged and personal story of her career. When the corpse of Meehan's ex-lover, journalist Terry Hewitt, turns up in the countryside near Port Glasgow, everything points to an IRA execution. After Meehan discovers that Terry willed her his notes and a house in the country, she decides to investigate his murder. Distracted by the imminent parole of Callum Ogilvy—the young cousin of her ex-fiancé convicted for his role in a child's murder in Field of Blood
(2005)—Meehan soon realizes that everyone from the Scottish police to the IRA is intent on keeping the motive for Terry's death a secret. When Terry's colleague is killed and her own young son is threatened, Meehan knows she must uncover the men responsible before she becomes their next victim. This gripping read, with its intricate plotting and realistic regional dialogue, will leave even the most astute reader guessing until the end.

September 15, 2008
Mina's third Paddy Meehan mystery takes place in 1990, nearly a decade after the events of The Dead Hour. In it, Paddy, now a single mom and well-known newspaper columnist, plunges into a search for answers when an old friend is murdered. Mina's sharp prose creates emotional intensity and brings Glasgow to life. While series fans may be disconcerted by the introduction of a new reader (Heather O'Neill voiced the earlier books), Jane MacFarland's soft Glaswegian accent and smooth performance do much to enhance this well-crafted novel. Highly recommended for all fiction collections. [Discs indexed inaudibly at the start of each chapter and at regular intervals throughout; audio clip available through www.bbcaudiobooksamerica.comJanet Martin, Southern Pines P.L., NC

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